Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Prayer for Studies
O ineffable Creator,
who, in Your wisdom, did arrange the three-tiered hierarchy of angels created by You, who watch over all the heavens,
You most wisely distribute all things in the world:
You, who are true Wisdom and the illuminating fountain, fashion me, who am dull and blind, with the infinite generosity of Your rays of wisdom and remove far from me my manifold darkness, in which I was born, my sin and ignorance.
You who grant eloquence to infants, guide my tongue and pour Your blessed grace upon my lips.
I beg You, grant me sharpness of mind, a gift of memory,
that I may find the right methods for learning and simplicity in my studies.
Grant me insight at the beginning of my studies and enable me to interpret this beauty in words.
Direct me throughout all my studies and
show me when, through You, I may complete this work,
You, who are true God and true man,
who lives and whose kingdom has no end.
Amen.
Saint Teresa of Avila’s Prayer
Christ has no body but yours,
no hands, no feet on earth but yours,
through your eyes He looks
with compassion on the world,
with your feet He walks to do good,
with your hands He blesses the world,
with your hands, your feet, your eyes, you are His body.
Christ’s Body is your body
your hands, your feet here on earth,
through your eyes He looks
with compassion on the world,
Christ has no body on earth at the moment, but He lives in you.
Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
Oh, my holy Guardian Angel,
Take me under your protection!
In all distress, help me!
Keep me pure from sin!
On this day (night), I ask you,
Keep, protect, save me!
Amen
Saint Francis of Assisi “Canticle of the Sun” (translator unknown)
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
You alone are worthy to receive all praise and glory, honor and every blessing,
To You alone, Most High, do these belong;
and no one is worthy to name You.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially through noble Brother Sun,
who gives us light and renews the day.
How beautiful and radiant he is! With his mighty splendor,
he reflects You to us, oh Most High.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens, You have placed them, beautiful and shining jewels.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, and clouds, and weather, be it clear or gloomy,
through whom You give life to all You have created.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful to us, humble, precious, and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
by whom You light up the night,
and he is beautiful, playful, mighty, and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister and Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and produces various fruits with colorful flowers and grass.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who forgive out of love for You
and patiently endure illness and hardship.
Blessed are those who wait in peace;
for You, Most High, will one day crown them.
Praised be You, my Lord, through the bodily death of our brother,
from which no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sins,
blessed are those who submit to Your holy will,
for the second death will never touch them.
Praise and glory and thanks to my Lord,
let us serve Him with humility and a good will.
Prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
***
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Receive, O Lord, all my understanding,
receive my liberty, memory, and all my will.
All that I possess or can do,
has been given by Your generosity.
I return all of it to You,
I let myself be guided by Your will.
Show me Your grace and mercy –
then I shall be rich enough
and I shall not know how to wish for more.
Cardinal John Henry Newman “Radiating Christ”
Dear Jesus,
help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go.
Fill my soul with Your spirit and life.
Be so in me and possess my whole being,
that all my life may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through me and be so in me that every soul,
whom I encounter, may feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me,
but only Jesus!
Stay with me, and then I shall begin to shine as You shine,
to shine so as to be a light to others.
All the light will be Yours, Jesus, not mine.
It will be You, shining through me upon others.
Let me thus praise You,
in the way that is best in Your eyes,
by shining on those around me.
Let me preach You without preaching,
not by words but by example, by the catching force,
by the sympathetic influence of what I do, by my evident
fullness of the love my heart bears to You.
Amen.